While Mies Van de Rohe said “Less is More”, Venturi opposed with his theory that “Less is a Bored”.
Panorama of Salk institute - Louise Kahn
Modernist like Louis Kahn believes that the shape and form of the building has to be pure geometry that show ‘honest’ of materials construction. The symmetry also play a big role. And the interior usually keeps privacy from outside and which is similar to the idea of ‘standard’ housing in Le Courbusier theory. For instance, Louis Kahn designed Salk Institute in 1959 complete in 1965
“The Salk Institute’s open environment teeming with empty space is symbolic of an open environment for creation, the symmetry stands for scientific precision, and submerging crevasses allow warm, natural light to enter the buildings like the intellectual light that leads to discovery. The contrast between balance and dynamic space manifests a pluralistic invitation for scientific study in structures developed to accommodate their respective functions as parts of a research facility. Although modern in appearance, it is essentially an isolated compound for individual and collaborative study not unlike monasteries as sanctuaries for religious discovery, and they directly influenced Kahn in his design. Ultimately, the Salk Institute’s meaning transcends function and physical place as a reflection of Western Civilization’s pursuit of truth through science instead of God: it is Louis Kahn’s masterpiece reinterpretation of the monastic “intellectual retreat” in our day and age.”
– meaning of Salk Institute.
In comparison to the film that created about the same time where these idea start to flourished. A film called “ Playtime, Jaques Tati.”
A group of American tourist land at Paris Airport and embark on a one-day sightseeing tour of the French capital. The famous landmark crowded by towering office blogs and a few signs of old Paris remain. For example, an old women sells flowers on a street corner while Monsieur Hulot has an appointment with an important official, but ends up getting lost in the maze of Modern offices. Later, he runs into the tourists at the exhibition of new invention products, which include a silent door and a broom with headlights. Having met up with an old army friend in his modern apartment, Hulot lost in crowded of Paris people with ideal of Modern age rules the town.
When Hulot step into an office, interior path seem to be never ending. The pattern of working space lost him in nowhere. We unintentionally step into the elevator where he found another floor also looks the same. Later he get on the ground level where all the office room arrange in an order where Hulot can see all the office in the room from above, but when he was stepping down and try to reach one officer he get lost and was trig by officer’s shadow on the mirror next door. Then he jump into the crowded of tourists in the exhibition hall.
